Tank not using Ca

[Nick Rose]

@Randy Holmes-Farley My garage tank seems to be not using or not using as much Ca. Since the beginning of October my Ca has been climbing. It was 450ppm but now its 530ppm, but my Alk is staying at 8.5. I dose 45ml of both Alk/CA. I'm using BRS's Calcium Chloride and baked baking soda. I do a 4 gallon water change on the 60gal system each week. I have to dose Ca to the new salt water mix to bring it up to 430 because its mixing below 400ppm. What would cause Ca to climb with a stable Alk? Should I stop dosing Ca to the tank until it comes back down to where I want it of 420-450 or will it go down on its own over time?

 

[Huskymaniac]

@Randy Holmes-Farley My garage tank seems to be not using or not using as much Ca. Since the beginning of October my Ca has been climbing. It was 450ppm but now its 530ppm, but my Alk is staying at 8.5. I dose 45ml of both Alk/CA. I'm using BRS's Calcium Chloride and baked baking soda. I do a 4 gallon water change on the 60gal system each week. I have to dose Ca to the new salt water mix to bring it up to 430 because its mixing below 400ppm. What would cause Ca to climb with a stable Alk? Should I stop dosing Ca to the tank until it comes back down to where I want it of 420-450 or will it go down on its own over time?

Your not following the calcium with a trident by any chance?

 

[Nick Rose]

Your not following the calcium with a trident by any chance?

No, I'm using Salifert. The Ca test only goes to 500 but the Strontium test of Ca was showing 530.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Can you detail the exact recipe you are using for both parts?

Is nitrate rising? That consumes alkalinity and not calcium.

 

[Nick Rose]

Can you detail the exact recipe you are using for both parts?

Is nitrate rising? That consumes alkalinity and not calcium.

It's 2 1/4 cups of baked baking soda in enough water to make one gallon and 2 1/2 cups of BRS Calcium Chloride in enough water to make one gallon. Nitrates seems to be holding steady around 5 or lower. I'll be checking that tomorrow or Saturday.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It's 2 1/4 cups of baked baking soda in enough water to make one gallon and 2 1/2 cups of BRS Calcium Chloride in enough water to make one gallon. Nitrates seems to be holding steady around 5 or lower. I'll be checking that tomorrow or Saturday.

If you dose that recipe equally (don't assume two dosing pumps deliver the same amount from time of delivery alone) and calcium is continually rising, then there are other sources of alkalinity depletion in your aquarium, or you are adding calcium some other way. In any case, cut back on the amount of the calcium dosed to match the situation.

There's nothing wrong with 530 ppm, but letting it drop back to the mid 400's with no calcium dosing for a while is a fine plan.

FWIW, calcium tests can read as high as you want just by using a second syringe and adding the values together.

 

[ReeferWarrant]

I did what Randy said, used an additional syringe of the solution. Not sure how I overdosed the tank but I ended up in the 550 range. Also, I do not suggest it but I added Birdsnest to my tank and my CA dropped quickly into range with how fast it grows.

 

[Conchman]

Good stuff, I am also finding the consumption rate. Meaning as my Montipotas especially are growing more massive, my consumption is accelerating, i'm making adjustments. My ALK is steady, my CA is dropping..

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Good stuff, I am also finding the consumption rate. Meaning as my Montipotas especially are growing more massive, my consumption is accelerating, i'm making adjustments. My ALK is steady, my CA is dropping..

FWIW, the corals are all using 1.4 dKH of alkalinity for each 18-20 ppm calcium. There is no other ratio they can use.